Category: Justice

Dreaming of Change

“The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way a person looks or people look at reality, then you can change the world.” James Baldwin Sometimes we change and the church has not kept pace with us. Many of us have been changed by […]

Why We Should Adopt the 8th Principle as It Is Written

At our annual Congregational Meeting on May 22nd, UUCT members will vote on adopting the 8th Principle: “We, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tallahassee, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions […]

Where Would the 8th Principle Reside After We Adopt It?

Some churches, such as First Unitarian Church of Portland, Oregon, reference the seven principles in their bylaws, listing each one. So, they will amend their bylaws to speak to eight principles. UUCT does not currently include the 7 UU Principles in our bylaws, nor do we mention them. Other churches adopted the 8th Principle as […]

How do we dismantle racism in our church?

Allies for Racial Equity is a UUCT advocacy group whose mission calls us to “confront and dismantle racism and racial inequality in ways that are accountable.”  How can we do this? I don’t pretend to give a complete answer. I can list some of the actions of other UU churches, along with a few of […]

Share the Plate with Rethink Energy Florida

ReThink Energy Florida is a nonprofit whose mission is to engage, educate, and empower Floridians to take action and achieve a just transition to clean energy for a healthier, more sustainable environment through youth education, adult engagement and community organizing. This year, in addition to our usual programs, such as our Energy Camp and the advocacy […]

The 8th Principle in Action

The 8th Principle calls on each of us to take responsibility for building beloved community by dismantling racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions. I see this as a call to commit ourselves to action not only within our congregation but also within our community. UUCT’s involvement with the Capital Area Justice Ministry […]

Share the Plate with UU Ministry for the Earth

The UU Ministry for Earth (UUMFE) is an independent non-profit organization that works to inspire, facilitate, and support personal, congregational, and denominational practices that honor and sustain the Earth and all beings. UUMFE supports UUs in connecting with others to grow our faith, providing resources for each other and organizing or action through its three […]

Living Our Principles: Mark your calendar now!

Saturday, April 16 for a workshop on Building a Culture of Inclusion. Unitarian Universalist congregations like ours are looking to create change not only in the communities that surround them, but their own churches, too. This April we will have a singular opportunity to begin the process of addressing remnants of racism and oppression in […]

Five Steps to Welcome: A Discussion Series

Beyond Welcome: Building Communities of Love (Linnea Nelson, ed.) includes 20 short essays about the prospects for building community in Unitarian Universalist congregations. The book needed to become a discussion series for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tallahassee, and so it has. Rev. Holly Brown and Robin Gray have built five sessions for us all to […]

Plan Your Reading with Centering BIPOC Voices: April, May and June

Most of the books we’ve read for Centering Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Voices focus on the American experience.  In April, we’ll travel over the sea to change our perceptions about the history of Africans in Europe. Olivette Otele, a Professor of History of Slavery and Memory of Enslavement in the UK offers us a […]